Drew Gooden’s contract expires at the end of this year. By making this move the Clippers avoid the chance of Sebastian Telfair activating his 2.7 million dollar trade option for next year and also get Al Thornton’s 2.8 million off the books as well.

The Clippers will have 33.5 million guaranteed on the books for the 2010-2011 season, not including the cap hold their 1st round pick will demand or the 6 minimum cap holds. It was predicted earlier in the year that the 2010-2011 salary cap would be anywhere between 50 – 54 million dollars. With that scale in mind, a maximum contract should check in right around 16 million dollars (30% of the salary cap number). According to those numbers, the Clippers should now have the space to offer a max contract.

Update (4:05p PT): The Clippers plan to buyout Drew Gooden’s contract and allow him to become a free agent, a league source told Y! Sports.

Update (4:25p PT): Ric Bucher reporting that Brian Skinner is actually not included in this deal.

Update (5:15p PT) The Clippers have given no indication that they’d buy out Gooden.